Light shield and reinforcement structure for beverage cases



L. A. SICKING LIGHT SHIELD AND REINFORCEMENT STRUCTURE FOR BEVERAGECASES Aug. 28, 1956 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 21, 1954 n /a.. R m m 4V 0 WE &

Avroemsys.

28, 1956 A. SICKING 2,760,715

L. LIGHT SHIELD AND REINFORCEMENT STRUCTURE FOR BEVERAGE CASES FiledJuly 21, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 41 4C: 5 32. 1s- 12 Ed i 43 15" 3 Aug.28, 1956 L. A. SICKING 2,760,715

LIGHT SHIELD AND REINFORCEMENT STRUCTURE FOR BEVERAGE CASES FiledJuly2l, 1954 '3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR LIGHT SEWLD AND REINFORCEMENTSTRUC- TURE FOR BEVERAGE CASES Lawrence A. Sicking, Indian Hill, Ohio,assignor to The Jackson Box Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation ofOhio Application July 21, 1954, Serial No. 444,845

3 Claims. (Cl. 2252) This invention is directed to cases or cartons forbottled beer and resides particularly in an improved construction whichstrengthens the hand grip holes of the case and prevents light fromentering the holes, which normally causes deterioration of the beerpacked therein.

The present structure is intended to be incorporated in the conventionalreturnable case which contains 24 bottles of 12 ounce size and isdisclosed in relation to this particular size; however, the improvementis also intended to be incorporated in cases which hold 12 quart sizebottles. The returnable case is ruggedly constructed of heavy paperboardmaterial in order to withstand the rough usage to which it is subjected.For carrying purposes, the case is provided with two hand grip holeswhich are located in the end walls near the upper edges of the walls. Inthe conventional case, these holes are constantly open and allow lightto strike the bottles within the case, which are in the proximity of theopenings, even though the hinged lids at the top are closed. It is wellknown that light rays penetrating the walls of the bottle, detract fromthe flavor and quality of beer contained in it; for this reason, mostbeer bottles are amber tinted to control the passage of light rays.However, upon exposure to direct sunlight, sufficient light rayspenetrate the bottle to have a damaging effect, even though the bottleis tinted.

The principal object of the invention has been to provide a simple lightshield structure at the interior of the case which covers the hand gripholes, which yields readily when the hands are inserted in the holes andwhich springs back to closed position when the hands are withdrawn fromthe hand grip holes. A further object has been to take advantage of theshield structure to reinforce the upper edge portion of the end wallabove the hand holes so as to prolong the useful life of the case.

Briefly, the shield or blind structure consists of a shield panel formedof paperboard material folded inwardly upon each end wall of the case,the panel having its central area partially severed to delineate a lightshield located behind the hand hole and arranged to be sprung inwardlyby the fingers when the hand is inserted in the hole to carry the case.In order to reinforce the upper edge portion of the end wall above thehand hole, a beamlike slat extends across the end wall above the handhole and is held in position by the frictional engagement of the shieldpanel which is folded down over upon the slat and upon the end wall towhich it is secured. The slat resides at the load bearing upper edgeportion of the hand hole and the hand hole is delineated by a partiallysevered hand hole flap which is folded upwardly around the slat toprovide a rounded hand grip edge extending across the hand hole. Theflap is held in engagement against the slat by the shield panel and thusprovides a positive retainer for the slat as well as a gripping edge;this structure is duplicated at opposite ends of the case.

The top closure of the case is constituted by two lids which are hingedalong the side walls of the case and which are provided with marginalflanges which meet at ited States Fatent the center of the case. Toaccommodate the flanges, the upper edge of each end wall is slotted to adepth corresponding to the width of the flanges, such that the flangesat the swinging ends of the lids fit down into the slots when in closedposition. In this position the end flanges of the lid nest over upon theupper edge portions of the end walls.

By reason of the slots, the upper portion of the end wall section aboveeach hand hole is considerably reduced and forms the weakest part of thecase. The cases are often carried in a level position with both hands inthe hand holes; consequently, the weight load of the case imposes forceswhich act upwardly in the plane of the end walls above the hand holes,tending to tear or disrupt that portion which is weakened by the slots.However, the slats above the hand holes act as beams to distribute theforces laterally and prevent undue strain; therefore, the slat andcomponent reinforcing structure prolongs the useful life of the case. Ifthe case is carried by one hand in a suspended position, then the forcesact at an angle to the plane of the end wall and are partially resistedby the slat and partially resisted by the flanges of the lid sectionswhich overlie the end wall. In either mode of carrying, the hingedblinds offer no interference with the normal grasping of the case by thehand holes and spring automatically to closed position when the hand iswithdrawn; thus protecting the bottles from exposure to light rays atall times.

The various structural features of the invention are disclosed in detailin the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an erected beer case embodying thepresent light shield and reinforcement structure.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure l,detailing the internal construction of the improved structure.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the one-piece blank of corrugated paperboardfrom which the case, light shield and reinforcing structure is erected.

Figure 4 is an enlarged plan view taken from Figure 3, furtherillustrating the improved end wall structure before erection.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, showing the reinforcing slat inposition with the retaining flap of the hand hole folded over upon theslat in retaining position.

Figure 6 is a view showing the light shield flap folded down upon theslat and upon its retaining flap and attached to the end wall.

Described with reference to Figure 1, the beer case proper is generallyconventional, consisting of a bottom 10, side walls 11, end walls 12 anda pair of hinged lid sections 13. The case is erected from a one-pieceblank 14 (Figure 3) which is cut from corrugated fiber board andsuitably scored longitudinally as at 15 and transversely as at 16, todelineate the components of the case.

The bottom 10 of the case is formed from the two side flaps 17 and endflaps 18 joined to the blank along the first longitudinal score line 15and separated from one another by the slits indicated at 19. The topclosure lids 13 are formed from the two side flaps 20 which aredelineated by the second longitudinal score line 15. The flaps 20 forthe lids each include a pair of score lines 21 located near the outeredge of each lid flap, these score lines delineating the marginal flange22 of each hinged lid as shown in Figure 1. The end flange 23 of eachhinged lid is delineated by the respective transverse score lines 16,each flange being integral with the side edges of the lid 13 as shown inFigure 3, and each having a tucking flap 24 which resides between thetwo flaps of flange 22 when they are folded one upon the other inerected position. The end flanges which reside adjacent the shieldpanels 35, later described, are severed from the marginal portions ofthe shield panels along the lines of severance indicated at 29.

Upon erection of the case, the blank is folded along the transversescore lines 16 to its rectangular shape, then the end flap of the blankis stapled as at 26 to the side wall at the opposite end 27 of theblank. Thereafter, the end flaps 18 are folded inwardly at the bottomand the side wall flaps 17 are folded over upon them. The bottom flapsare then permanently attached together by stapling or the like to formthe bottom 10. The lid flanges are formed by folding the two flangeflaps over, one upon the other, with the tucking flap 24 insertedbetween them. The flanges are then secured to permanently erectedposition by applying staples 28 as shown in Figure 1.

' As 'shown in Figures 1 and 2, the end walls 12 are provided with handgrip holes 30 which are located near the upper edge of the walls andcentered. upon the longitudinal axis of the case. The hand holes areformed by partially severing the end walls as indicated at 31, (Figure3) to provide an oblong opening, the interrupted portion of the severedline being scored as at 32. This provides a slat retaining flap 33,which as shown in Figure 2 is folded inwardly along the score line toprovide a rounded load bearing edge 34 along the upper edge portion ofeach hand hole.

Preferably before erection of the case proper, the light shieldstructure is erected upon the end walls 12 of the case as indicated inFigures 4, 5 and 6. This structure consists of the shield panel 35 foreach end wall, each panel being partially severed centrally as at 36 todelineate a blind or light shield indicated at 37 in Figure 2, whichoverlies the hand hole 30 to prevent passage of light rays into thecase. In order to reinforce the portion of the end wall above the handhole, a slat 38, preferably of wood, is placed above the hand hole 30,with the slat retaining flap 33 of the hand hole folded inwardly andover upon the slat.

It will be noted that each shield panel 35 is delineated by a portion ofthe longitudinal score line 15, as indicated at 40, and that there isprovided an opening 1 of narrow rectangular shape extending transverselyacross the score line and residing partially within the end wall andpartially within the shield panel. The opening is located midway betweenthe side edges of the end walls, such that upon erection of the case, anopen slot 42, which resides above the hand hole, is formed in the upperedge of the end wall in position to receive the flange 22 of the lidsections when they are closed over upon the top ofthe case. It will beunderstood that the slot weakens the end wall above the hand hole butthat it is a necessary expedient which is of conventional construction.

It is the primary purpose of the slat 38 to reinforce the end wallportion above the hand hole against forces acting upwardly parallel tothe plane of the end wall as the case is carried in level position withboth hands inserted in the hand grip holes. Referring again to Figures4, 5 and 6, it will be noted that each shield panel 35 is provided witha strip of adhesive material along its free edge as indicated at 43.Upon application of the adhesive, the panel is folded along score line40 downwardly over upon slat 38 and upon the slat retaining flap 33 ofthe hand hole. This brings the glue strip 43 into contact with theinterior surface of the end wall, permanently attaching the panel to theend wall with the panel overlying the slat and exerting clampingpressure upon the retaining flap and slat. It will be noted in Figure 6,that the partially severed light shield 37 is now in a positionoverlying the hand hole, with the end portions of the retainer flap,indicated at 44, extending beyond the confines of the shield and engagedby the panel proper. The shield panel thus provides the two functions-of clamping the slat in position and of maintaining the light shade inerect position behind the hand holes. Since the light shade is onlypartially severed along the line 36, it resides firmly in positionbehind the hand hole but is free to be sprung inwardly to allow thehands to be inserted in the holes for carrying the case.

As shown in Figure 4, the blank is cut with the corrugations 45extending longitudinally of the light shield panel, such that thecorrugations extend across the intact portion of the shield 46 whichjoins the shield to the panel. This portion of the shield, which uponerection (Figure 1) resides at the lower edge of the shield constitutesa spring section which maintains the shield normally in closed position.Upon insertion of the hand in the hand grip hole, the flap springsreadily to its open position, bending slightly along its intact lowerportion, but insufficiently to cause permanent disruption of the fibersin the bending area. Accordingly, the shield, by operation of thecorrugations, retains its springiness during the life of the case andremains in closed position at all times. It will be evident that thebending resistance of the shield is not excessive and that the presenceof the shield does not interfere with the normal handling of the caseeither with one hand or with both hands.

It will be observed that the slat 38 provides a beam eifect by virtue ofits width, serving to distribute the forces acting against the upperportion of the hand hole. Although the slat is loosely maintained inposition by frictional engagement, the gripping force applied againstthe slat retaining flap 33 of the hand hole clamps the slat under withsufficient firmness against the end Wall to distribute the forceslaterally and away from the slotted upper portion of the end wall whenthe case is carried. It will be understood that when the case is carriedby one hand in a suspended position, then the forces act generally atright angles to the plane of the end wall and slat. However, in thiscase, the sectional lids are closed and their end flanges 23, whichoverlie the upper edge of the end wall, are effective to reinforce theupper wall portion against the forces acting to disrupt or tear thewall.

It will be noted that the light shield structure addsvery little to thecost of the carton since it is cut as an integral part of the blank andis erected in a simple manner. Moreover, it provides the reinforcingeffect as an incident to its erection simply by the insertion of thewood slat.

Having described my invention I claim:

1. A light shield structure for a beverage bottle case formed ofpaperboard material, the case having a bottom, side walls, end walls,and a pair of lid sections hinged to the upper edges of the side walls,said light shield structure comprising, an elongated slat retaining flapon each end wall, said flap being delineated by a line of severance andincluding curved'opposite ends, the said line of severance delineating ahand hole, the slat retaining flap being intact along the upper edge ofthe hand hole, a light shield panel joined to the upper edge of each endwall, the panel folded inwardly and residing against the internalsurface of the end wall and having its lower portion attached thereto, alight shield formed in each of said panels, said light shield delineatedby a line of severance in the form of an arch having a curved upperportion, the lower portion of the light shield being intact with thesaid panel, said shield springing inwardly to accommodate the hand uponinsertion thereof into the hand holes, a reinforcing slat extendingacross the end wall above the hand hole and reinforcing the same, thesaid slat retaining flap being folded inwardly and upwardly about thelower portion of said slat providing a lower portion loosely supportingthe slat, said shield panel overlying the retaining flap, the curvedportion of the line of severance of the shield passing upwardly aboutthe slat retaining flap and intersecting the curved opposite endsthereof, the light shield panel engaging the opposite ends of the slatretaining Help and locking the same in retaining position relative tothe slat, the curved upper portion of the light shield projectingupwardly a substantial distanc above the upper edge of the hand hole,thereby to facilitate insertion and withdrawal of the hand through thehand hole.

2. A light shield structure for a beverage bottle case formed ofpaperboard material, the case having a bottom, side walls, end walls,and a pair of lid sections hinged to the upper edges of the side walls,said lid sections meeting at the center of the case, and having lidflanges overlying the upper edges of said walls when in closed position,each of said end walls having a hand hole formed therein, said lightshield structure comprising alight shield panel joined to the upper edgeof the end wall, the panel folded inwardly and residing against theinternal surface of the end wall and having its lower portion attachedthereto, a light shield formed in said panel and overlying the handhole, said light shield delineated by a line of severance in the saidpanel, said line of severance being in the form of an arch, the lowerportion of the light shield being intact with the said panel, saidshield springing inwardly to accommodate the hands of the user, uponinsertion thereof into the hand hole, a reinforcing slat extendingacross the end wall above the hand hole and reinforcing the same, anelongated slat retaining flap joined to the upper edge of the said handhole, the flap having a curved lower portion passing under the slat andhaving a vertical portion engaging the side of the slat and looselysupporting the same, the said shield panel overlying the retainer flapand confining the same in said position, the curved lower portion of theretainer flap residing below the upper edge of the end wall a distancesubstantially equal to the combined widths of said slat and the said lidflange, the upper edge of the end wall along the center of the caseincluding an open slot extending downwardly to the upper edge of saidslat, the lid flanges of the meeting lid sections projecting into saidslot and engaging and confining the said slat in the slat retaining flapin the closed position of the lid sections, whereby said lid flangeoverlies the upper edge of the end wall and coacts with the slat toreinforce the end wall.

3. A light shield structure for a bottle case formed of paperboardmaterial, the case having a bottom, side Walls, end walls, and a pair oflid sections hinged to the upper edges of the side walls, said lidsections meeting at the center of the case and having lid flangesoverlying the upper edges of the end walls when in closed position, saidlight shield structure comprising a light shield panel joined to theupper edge of the end wall, the panel folded inwardly and residingagainst the internal surface of the end wall and attached thereto, alight shield formed in said panel and delineated by a line of severancein the form of an arch having a curved upper portion, the lower portionof the light shield being intact with the said panel, an elongated handhole in the end wall residing within the confines of the light shield,said shield springing inwardly to accommodate the hand of the user, areinforcing slat extending across each end wall above the hand hole, aslat retaining flap joined to the upper edge of the hand hole, the flapfolded inwardly and upwardly about the lower portion of said slat andloosely supporting the same, said shield panel overlying the retainingflap, and locking the same in said position, the upper curved portion ofthe line of severance of the shield passing upwardly about the retainingflap and intersecting the opposite ends thereof, the curved upperportion of the shield projectin upwardly a substantial distance abovethe upper edge of the hand hole, the upper edge of the reinforcing slatresiding below the upper edge of the end wall, the upper edge of the endwall including an open slot extending downwardly to the upper edge ofsaid slat, the lid flanges projecting into said slot and confining theslat in the said retaining flap when the lid sections are in closedposition.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,078,087 Lincoln Apr. 20, 1937 2,281,061 Boeye Apr. 28, 1942 2,311,040Evert Feb. 16, 1943 2,383,853 Guyer Aug. 28, 1945

